K. Bhagyaraj

K Bhagyaraj
Bhagyaraj in April 2014
Born	Krishnasaamy Bhagyaraj (1953-01-07) 7 January 1953 (age 68) Vellankoil, Gobichettipalayam, Erode district, Tamilnadu, India
Occupation	Actor director screenwriter producer music director singer dancer
Years active	1977–present
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Spouse(s)	Praveena Bhagyaraj ​ ​ (m. 1981; died 1983)​ Poornima Jayaram ​ (m. 1984)​ [2][3]
Children	Saranya Bhagyaraj (b.1985) Shanthanu Bhagyaraj (b.1986)
Parent(s)	Krishnasaamy Amaravathiyammal

Krishnasaamy Bhagyaraj (born 7 January 1953) is an Indian director, actor, screenwriter, music director, producer and politician active mainly in Tamil films. He has also written and directed Telugu and Hindi films and TV serials. As an actor, he has worked in more than 75 films and has directed more than 25 films. He won a Filmfare Best Actor Award for Mundhanai Mudichu (1983). He received Lifetime achievement award in SIIMA (2014).^[4] He is the editor of weekly magazine Bhagya and has also written several novels.

Personal life[]

Bhagyaraj was born in Vellankoil near Gobichettipalayam in Erode district in Tamil Nadu. His parents were Krishnaswamy and Amaravathiamma. He married twice. His first marriage was with actress Praveena, in 1981. She died due to an aggravated case of jaundice in August 1983. His second marriage was with actress Poornima Jayaram, who was his co-star in Darling, Darling, Darling (1982),^[5] on 7 February 1984. The couple has a daughter Saranya Bhagyaraj and a son Shanthnu Bhagyaraj.

Since his childhood he had been huge fan of actors M. G. Ramachandran and Rajesh Khanna.

Film career[]

Early years (1977–1979)[]

Beginning his career as an assistant to directors G. Ramakrishnan and Bharathiraja, Bhagyaraj became recognised for his scriptwriting talent.^[6] He first appeared as a junior artist playing small supporting roles with screen-space of not more than three minutes in films such as 16 Vayathinile (1977) and later appeared similarly in Sigappu Rojakkal (1978). He was assistant director to Bharathiraja in two films – 16 Vayathnile and Kizhakke Pogum Rail. Among his early work was writing the script for Bharathiraja's films Kizhake Pogum Rail (1978) and Tik Tik Tik (1981), and writing dialogues for Sigappu Rojakkal. He made his directorial début with Suvarilladha Chiththirangal in 1979 and also his debut as the leading man in Puthiya Vaarpugal, directed by Bharathiraja. He received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer in Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979). Kanni Paruvathile (1979), a film for which he wrote dialogues and screenplay and acted in a negative role, was a huge success. Though he had not achieved success as a director till 1979, he was motivated with success as the hero with Puthiya Vaarpugal, a negative role, and as a writer of story and dialogues for Kanni Paruvathile and decided to write, direct and act for Oru Kai Osai (1980), which, though not a huge success.

Rise to stardom (1980–1999)[]

He quickly established his own concern and started producing a string of distinctive films made mainly in the Tamil language. Bhagyaraj often cast himself in the lead roles of the films he scripts and directs, effectively carving out a niche for himself in the actor-auteur vein. His style of filmmaking is notable for its relatively elaborate, witty, and double entendre-laced script and socially-themed framework. His on-screen personae are typically characterised by their ironic sense of humour and intelligent bravado.^[7]

From 1981 onwards, successful Tamil films written, directed by and starring him started being remade in Hindi, with the first being Mouna Geethangal, remade as Ek Hi Bhool and Andha 7 Naatkal remade as Woh Saat Din.

He introduced actress Urvashi in the Tamil film Mundhanai Mudichu (1983) and Kalpana (sister of Urvashi) made her debut with the 1985 film Chinna Veedu, directed by Bhagyaraj, a commercially successful film. He received the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil in Mundhanai Mudichu. He became nationally famous when he wrote the script for Mundhanai Mudichu remade in Hindi as Masterji with Rajesh Khanna in the lead role, which was huge success at the box office. His next directorial venture Mayadari Mogudu in Telugu, which was a success.

His assistant directors for his directorial ventures Darling, Darling, Darling, Dhavani Kanavugal, Mundhanai Mudichu, Mayadari Mogudu was Pandiarajan, whereas Parthiban was his assistant director for Dhavani Kanavugal; later both Pandirajan and Parthiban went on to become director and actors.

He rarely acted in films not directed or written by him, with exceptions being Anbulla Rajinikanth (1984) and Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985). He decided to direct the Hindi remake of Bharatiraja's 1984 directorial venture Oru Kaidhiyin Diary with Rajesh Khanna in the lead in 1985, but later Khanna due to his date issues had to opt out and Bhagyaraj cast Amitabh Bachchan in the Hindi remake Aakhree Raasta (1986)). Bhagayraj decided to remake the classic old Kannada film Mallammana Pavada, starring Rajkumar and B Saroja Devi into a new Tamil film Enga Chinna Rasa in 1987, which became a huge blockbuster. In 1988, he wrote the script for Idhu Namma Aalu and decided to produce it, but chose not to direct it by himself, as he wanted to act-write-direct a film on a serious issue, which was Aararo Aaariraro. He received the Best Film Award for Idhu Namma Aalu in 1990, directed by Balakumar, whereas the other film Aararo Aaariraro also was both critically acclaimed and successful at box office. After the death of MGR in 1987, during a meeting with director C V Sridhar and producer Duraiswamay, an idea came across to Bhagyaraj to make use of the unfinished 1977 film Anna Nee En Deivam, starring MGR and Latha and make the film Avasara Police 100 (1990), starring himself as well in the lead.

From 1991, he gradually started accepting more acting offers as a lead hero, where director-producer-scriptwriter would be three different people, rather than he himself writing-directing-acting in his films. Rudhra, Amma Vanthachu, Gnanapazham and Suyamvaram were such successful films where he was involved only in the capacity of actor. He also started the weekly magazine "Bhagya" and he is the editor of that magazine. His successful directorial ventures written by him from 1991 on were Pavunnu Pavunuthan, Sundara Kandam, Raasukutti and Veetla Visheshanga. He cast his son Shanthanu Bhagyaraj as the child artist in Vaettiya Madichu Kattu in 1998 and the film dealt with the father-son relationship, this proved to be both a critical and financial disappointment capping an end to a string of continuous flops including Oru Oorla oru Rajakumari, Gnanapazham and Mr. Bechara (1996).

His successful Tamil films written by him continued to be in demand for Hindi remakes in the 1990s and were huge hits in Hindi – with Raasukutti remade as Raja Babu, Sundara Kandam remade as Andaz (1994) and Avasara Police 100 remade into Gopi Kishan, which were successful. He also wrote the script for the Tamil film Thaikulame Thaikulame (1995), starring Pandiarajan, whose actor-director was not himself in Hindi, remade as Gharwali Baharwali.^[8]

End of directions (2000–2010)[]

He took a break from acting as the lead hero in Tamil films after the release of the massive critical and commercial failure Vaettiya Madichu Kattu. Instead, he directed the TV shows Neenga Nenaicha Saadhikkalanga and Idhu Oru Kadhayin Kadhai (for DD Podhigai), and appeared in Apapadi Podu on Jaya TV in this period. His tele-serial Rules Rangachari was very famous on DD channel and it completed 390 episodes. He wrote and directed the 2003 film Chokka Thangam, starring Vijayakanth. He launched his daughter Saranya Bhagyaraj with Parijatham, which he wrote and directed in 2006. He returned to acting with Something Something... Unakkum Enakkum and Rendu in a supporting role and with Kasu Irukkanum as the lead hero in 2007. He directed his adult son Shanthanu Bhagyaraj in the romantic film Siddhu +2 in 2010.

Later Years (2011–present)[]

At the end of the 2010s, he acted in supporting roles such Appavi (2011) and Vaagai Sooda Vaa (2011). He ventured into Malayalam film as supporting actor with Mr. Marumakan (2012).

He was the leading judge for the show Junior Super Star (2016) and Junior Super Stars (season 2) (2017).^[9][10]

He wrote books such as Vaanga Cinemavai Pattri Pesalam, Neenga Nenaicha Saadikkalaam and Ungal Bhagyaraj in Kelvi Bhadhil (Five Parts).^[11]

He appeared in action thriller films which went on to become commercial hits with Kanithan (2016) and Thupparivaalan (2017).^[12][13]

Filmography[]

NO	Year	Title	Language	Credited as				Role	Notes
				Director	Producer	Writer	Actor
1	1977	16 Vayathinile	Tamil				Y		Assistant director Cameo appearance
2	1978	Kizhake Pogum Rail	Tamil				Y	Ponnandi	Assistant director Cameo appearance
3		Sigappu Rojakkal	Tamil			Y	Y	Waiter	Cameo appearance
4	1979	Puthiya Vaarpugal	Tamil			Y	Y	Shanmugakani	Debut film as hero
5		Kanni Paruvathile	Tamil			Y	Y
6		Suvarilladha Chiththirangal	Tamil	Y		Y	Y		Debut film as director
7	1980	Bhama Rukmani	Tamil			Y	Y
8		Oru Kai Oosai	Tamil	Y	Y	Y	Y
9		Kumari Pennin Ullathile	Tamil				Y
10		Ilamai Kolam	Tamil			Y
11	1981	Mouna Geethangal	Tamil	Y		Y	Y	Kumar
12		Indru Poi Naalai Vaa	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
13		Vidiyum Varai Kaathiru	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
14		Andha 7 Naatkal	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
15	1982	Thooral Ninnu Pochu	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
16		Poi Satchi	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
17		Darling, Darling, Darling	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
18	1983	Mundhanai Mudichu	Tamil	Y		Y	Y		Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil
19		Saattai Illatha Pambaram	Tamil			Y
20	1984	Mayadari Mogudu	Telugu	Y		Y
21		Oomai Janangal	Tamil				Y
22		Anbulla Rajinikanth	Tamil				Y	Himself	Cameo
23		Dhavani Kanavugal	Tamil	Y	Y	Y	Y
24	1985	Oru Kaidhiyin Diary	Tamil			Y
25		Naan Sigappu Manithan	Tamil				Y
26		Chinna Veedu	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
27	1986	Aakhree Raasta	Hindi	Y		Y			Remake of Tamil film Oru Kaidhiyin Diary
28		Kanna Thorakkanum Saami	Tamil			Y
29	1987	Enga Chinna Rasa	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
30		Chinna Kuyil Paaduthu	Tamil				Y
31	1988	Idhu Namma Aalu	Tamil			Y	Y		Also composer, also singer for song "Pachaimalai Saamy"
32	1989	En Rathathin Rathame	Tamil				Y
33		Aararo Aaariraro	Tamil	Y	Y	Y	Y		Also composer
34		Ponnu Pakka Poren	Tamil			Y			Also composer
35	1990	Avasara Police 100	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
36	1991	Pavunnu Pavunuthan	Tamil	Y		Y	Y		Also composer
37		Rudhra	Tamil			Y	Y
38	1992	Sundara Kandam	Tamil	Y	Y	Y	Y
39		Amma Vandhachu	Tamil				Y
40	1992	Raasukutti	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
41	1994	Veetla Visheshanga	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
42	1995	Oru Oorla oru Rajakumari	Tamil	Y		Y	Y
43		Thaikulame Thaikulame	Tamil			Y
44	1996	Mr. Bechara	Hindi	Y		Y			Remake of Tamil film Veetla Visheshanga
45		Gnanapazham	Tamil				Y		Also Music composer
46	1998	Vaettiya Madichu Kattu	Tamil	Y	Y	Y	Y
47	2000	Papa the Great	Hindi	Y			Y		Remake of Tamil film Vaettiya Madichu Kattu
48		Kabadi Kabadi	Tamil			Y
49	2003	Chokka Thangam	Tamil	Y		Y			25th Film (Director)
50	2005	Radha Gopalam	Telugu				Y	Lawyer	Cameo appearance
51	2006	Parijatham	Tamil	Y	Y	Y	Y
52		Something Something Unakkum Enakkum	Tamil				Y
53		Rendu	Tamil				Y
54	2007	Mudhal Mudhalai	Tamil				Y
55		Kasu Irukkanum	Tamil				Y	G. R.
56	2008	Maanavan Ninaithal	Tamil				Y	Raj
57	2009	Ninaithale Inikkum	Tamil				Y
58	2010	Uthamaputhiran	Tamil				Y
59		Siddhu +2	Tamil	Y	Y	Y	Y
60	2011	Appavi	Tamil				Y
61		Maaveeran	Tamil			Y			Dialogue writer Tamil dubbed version of Telugu film Magadheera
62		Vaagai Sooda Vaa	Tamil				Y
63	2012	Mr. Marumakan	Malayalam				Y	Balasubrahmanyam
64	2013	Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu	Tamil				Y
65	2014	Ninaithathu Yaaro	Tamil				Y	Himself	Cameo appearance
66	2015	Thunai Mudhalvar	Tamil			Y	Y	Periyapaandi
67		Moone Moonu Varthai	Tamil				Y	Himself
68	2016	Kanithan	Tamil				Y
69		Vaaimai	Tamil				Y		Cameo appearance
70	2017	Mupparimanam	Tamil				Y	Himself	Cameo appearance
71		Ayyanar Veethi	Tamil				Y	Subramania Sastry
72		Veruli	Tamil				Y
73		Ivan Yarendru Therikiratha	Tamil				Y	Love Guru
74		Thupparivaalan	Tamil				Y	Muthu
75		Brahma.com	Tamil				Y	Gurukkal
76	2018	Kilambitaangayaa Kilambitaangayaa	Tamil				Y
77		Aaruthra	Tamil				Y
78		Koothan	Tamil				Y
79	2019	Sita	Telugu				Y	Anand Mohan
80	2020	Ponmagal Vandhal	Tamil				Y	'Petition' Pethuraj
81	2021		Tamil				Y		Filming

Television[]

As judge

• Junior Super Star
• Junior Super Stars (season 2)
• Comedy stars season 2 (Malayalam Show)

As actor

Politics[]

MGR Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (MGR Popular Progressive Federation) was a political party in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu launched by Bhagyaraj in February 1989. MGR MMK contested the 1991 Kerala assembly elections. It had one candidate, who got 87 votes. The MGR MMK party failed in its initial stages.^[14] Bhagyaraj later joined All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.^[15]

References[]

External links[]

• K. Bhagyaraj at IMDb
• India Today – K. Bhagyaraj; The reigning king in the world of Madras film Hollywood